I apologize in advance if the question I'm about to ask doesn't belong in this thread, but what cell phone provider has the best data coverage at USNA? I currently have AT&T and my family is planning to switch to Sprint if Sprint is okay at USNA. Should we or should we not make the switch? Thank you!!
This was asked in Brigade Feedback this past week:
2. MISLO- Is there any update on the sprint cell phone repeaters in bancroft?
"There is no set date for when Sprint is supposed to have functionality inside of Bancroft unfortunately. Sorry I don't have better news." - 1/C XXXXXX, Brigade MISLO
So Sprint might not be the best option to to go with if you have any say in the matter. You may get some service in the Hall, particularly if you're on the top deck, but you won't get a lot of use out of the cell repeaters. It looks like this update is aimed at improving the service of existing carriers and not adding new ones.
I've got AT&T. After they put the repeaters in last year, it works well enough. Not spectacularly. I can make calls from my room. From what I heard Verizon is pretty good at USNA. Not sure about T-mobile.
Good. Because the so-called previous improvements were not noticeable!
To answer the original question: Right now, they all stink!
At least there is SOME service. When I was a plebe (before they put the repeaters in) there was literally no service in Bancroft for the vast majority of people. Unless you lived on the 4th deck or happened to be in a "lucky" room, you were pretty much SOL.
I'm sure many years from now when I'm an old fart visiting the Yard on a reunion weekend I'll quip that I had the last real plebe year because mine was the last one before they put the cell repeaters in (jokingly of course). The newer classes won't know the struggle of having to stand on your windowsill with your phone held up to the class trying to send a text, or periodically having to go outside to make sure you hadn't received any texts because you didn't trust the service in your room, or having to go outside to make phone calls.